Sony teases new True RGB TV tech ahead of 2026 launch

After first teasing key highlights last year, Sony has reportedly previewed its “True RGB” technology during a closed-door demonstration at the company’s Tokyo headquarters. A TV using this tech was reportedly compared directly with professional mastering monitors. The pitch is that it could deliver reference-grade image quality while retaining the brightness advantages of LED panels.

Sony Electronics has also posted a short video on its YouTube channel, teasing the launch of its True RGB TV later this spring.

What is True RGB and why it matters

Traditional LED TVs rely on a white or blue LED backlight, which is then filtered through colour layers. This process tends to be less efficient and dilutes colour purity. As a solution, Sony’s True RGB replaces this conventional backlight system with independently controlled red, green, and blue LEDs. There are no colour layers and the coloured light is emitted directly, allowing the panel to produce more saturated colours at higher brightness levels.

So, this matters for three reasons:

• First, it improves colour volume, especially in bright HDR scenes. In a previous press release, Sony claimed this tech can cover 99% of the DCI-P3 colour space and about 90% of the ITU-R BT.2020 standard.
• Second, it reduces the typical trade-off between higher brightness and washed-out colours. The company says this tech can achieve over 4000 cd/m².
• Sony also claims better off-axis viewing and more natural blooming behaviour, where light halos take on the colour of the object rather than appearing white.

Sony has been working on this tech since 2004, with early experiments like the Qualia series. But now, the company has both the hardware and processing chops to implement this better.

The new system uses dense RGB LED clusters arranged in tighter grids, along with square dimming zones for more precise control. As for processing, Sony’s backlight control algorithms dynamically adjust brightness and colour output in real time, considering the thermal and power requirements of different-coloured LEDs.

As per various reports, Sony’s demonstrations showed off the True RGB prototype, presenting colour backlighting even in real-world content, unlike some competing RGB Mini LED TVs that revert to white backlighting in certain scenes.

Sony also showcased brightness performance using HDR content graded to 4,000 nits, with its prototype reaching close to that level. Competing RGB LED TVs in the same demo ranged roughly between 700 and 2,200 nits only. While these figures are based on controlled demos, they indicate Sony is prioritising peak brightness alongside colour accuracy.

Still and all, the technology relies on a backlight, unlike OLED, where each pixel emits its own light. This means some blooming and off-axis limitations may remain, even if reduced.

Also Read: RGB to PHOLED to Tandem OLED: 8 Different Types of OLED Display Technologies You Should Know About

In time, we’ll know how this tech works in the real world and how the new TV is priced. The company has not confirmed final specifications, pricing, or exact model names yet. We will keep you posted.

You can wait for True RGB TV, but for now, premium Mini LED and OLED TVs remain safer choices. We should have a clearer picture to share closer to the expected spring 2026 launch window.

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